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tax cuts, and sort of dare the republican party not to vote for, you know, a new round of obama tax cuts. politically the president holds those but it's more important than that. the american people, after looking at options presented to them reclearly with a return of president obama to the white house, or initiating mitt romney presidency, chose a return of president obama to the white house and therefore gave him a very clear mandate to hold the line on the question of entitlements there when it comes to talking about entitlements, or earned benefits as progressives like to refer to it, what is the way that the president and those on the left can look and also appear to the right to be willing to compromise? what can they put on the table, if anything? >> well, i just don't think that any of us think that it is a reasonable idea to over the course of the next week and a half, over the course of the holiday season, for the president and this congress, which is a lame duck congress, to engage in major entitlement reforms of programs that have helped to lift millions of americans ou
tax cuts, and sort of dare the republican party not to vote for, you know, a new round of obama tax cuts. politically the president holds those but it's more important than that. the american people, after looking at options presented to them reclearly with a return of president obama to the white house, or initiating mitt romney presidency, chose a return of president obama to the white house and therefore gave him a very clear mandate to hold the line on the question of entitlements there...
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Dec 5, 2012
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yesterday obama also appeared to showroom for flexibility on actually relowering those tax rates in the future. >> i don't think that the issue right now has to do with sitting in a room. the issue right now that's relevant is the acknowledgement that if we're going to raise revenues that are sufficient to balance with the very tough cuts that we've already made and the further reforms and entitlements that i'm prepared to make, that we're going to have to see the rates on the top 2% go up. and we're not going to be able to get a deal without it. p what i've suggested is let's essentially put a down payment on taxes. let's let tax rates on the upper income folks go up. and then let's set up a process with a time certain at the end of 2013 or the fall of 2013 where we work on tax reform, we look at what loopholes and deductions both democrats and republicans are willing to close, and it's possible that we may be able to lower rates by broadening the base at that points. >> in the meantime, now the gop is fighting with itself. speaker boehner is facing growing backlash from the more conse
yesterday obama also appeared to showroom for flexibility on actually relowering those tax rates in the future. >> i don't think that the issue right now has to do with sitting in a room. the issue right now that's relevant is the acknowledgement that if we're going to raise revenues that are sufficient to balance with the very tough cuts that we've already made and the further reforms and entitlements that i'm prepared to make, that we're going to have to see the rates on the top 2% go...
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Dec 6, 2012
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he told cnbc that instead of continuing tax breaks for the wealthy, the obama administration is willing to go over this cliff which means they're willing to let your taxes go up and unemployment checks go away massive spending cuts happen if the pentagon instead of continuing the tax breaks for the wealthy. now there's been very little progress here on chiapitol hill which is why so many have gone home. we know that president obama and john boehner spoke by phone. republican sources telling us they had a conversation yesterday. we don't have a readout on what that was about. we don't know that if any meetings have been scheduled. but any small sign of progress is welcome here on capitol hill. now with so many lawmakers headed home and likely to face the ire of their constituents, we saw one protester in baltimore yesterday over social security. there are a few left. today there's a joint economic committee hearing. they're going to hear from a top economist not only about the jobs numbers coming out tomorrow but also about what can be done to avoid this issue at the end of the year. >>
he told cnbc that instead of continuing tax breaks for the wealthy, the obama administration is willing to go over this cliff which means they're willing to let your taxes go up and unemployment checks go away massive spending cuts happen if the pentagon instead of continuing the tax breaks for the wealthy. now there's been very little progress here on chiapitol hill which is why so many have gone home. we know that president obama and john boehner spoke by phone. republican sources telling us...
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Dec 4, 2012
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out there, the republican from oklahoma, who said we're draz si if we don't extend the middle class tax cuts. you could see more republicans get there. and that's why i'm really glad president obama is not negotiating both for himself and for the republicans, which was sometimes his habit the last time. he's basically saying you want a bunch of cuts i don't have. don't make me propose them. that's creating some pressure on them. i think both those things will have an effect. we'll get the taxes back if we do nothing. >> the conversation in washington being separate from what it feels like the real needs of the country, a familiar feeling for me. i often have this frustration that the beltway discussion is not what the important questions are that are facing the country. in this case, i feel like as long as we're willing to talk about the economic needs of the country, as long as we're willing to talk about fiscal policy, how can it be we're not talking about new stimulus. the republicans ran against that as if the stimulus was this awful thing. but the republicans lost and we have an ec
out there, the republican from oklahoma, who said we're draz si if we don't extend the middle class tax cuts. you could see more republicans get there. and that's why i'm really glad president obama is not negotiating both for himself and for the republicans, which was sometimes his habit the last time. he's basically saying you want a bunch of cuts i don't have. don't make me propose them. that's creating some pressure on them. i think both those things will have an effect. we'll get the taxes...
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and for the obama administration, the question is, is it in their interest to trade tax cuts for the wealthy? increase for the wealthy for raising the age for eligibility for medicare, for example. i'm not sure that that's a trade that they are eager to make immediately. >> let me show you the side by side comparison. the president wants $1.6 trillion in revenue and republicans want to cap the same deductions for the rich but republicans want to change the age to 67 and change the way they calculate social security payments. i wonder, though, when we look at these numbers, are we that far apart in. >> i think they are definitely rather far aare part at this moment in time. yeah, absolutely. >> so there are so many ways that any of this could affect the average tack payer, obviously if taxes go up. but what about funding to states and localities. i know that one of the things that they are concerned about is that when you make cuts, that essentially those cuts are going to come on their budgets. what could happen in a meeting like this between bipartisan governors and the president? >
and for the obama administration, the question is, is it in their interest to trade tax cuts for the wealthy? increase for the wealthy for raising the age for eligibility for medicare, for example. i'm not sure that that's a trade that they are eager to make immediately. >> let me show you the side by side comparison. the president wants $1.6 trillion in revenue and republicans want to cap the same deductions for the rich but republicans want to change the age to 67 and change the way...
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Nov 30, 2012
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what's balanced about 4:1 tax hikes to spending cuts? >> well, first let me say harry misspoke. he meant that they've already done a trillion dollars in cuts in the last resolution and those play out over the next ten years. and that's correct. that's a fact. and the president has said consistently both on the campaign trail and after the election that he's for something on the lines of simpson-bowles which is at least 2.5:1 spending cuts to taxes. and i think he laid out the 400 and then said to the republicans you bring me other cuts and i'll consider them. and i think he understands that there will be significantly more spending cuts including on entitlements than there are taxes. >> so this is an opening point. >> an opening gambit as chris ten wel kristen welker said. the president's always been criticized by putting what he really wants on the table first. you do don't do that, staurt with something that's reasonable. ic ti think the $1.6 trillion i reasonable. but he knows he won't get $1.6 trillion in revenue. but he puts that out there because i think he probably wants
what's balanced about 4:1 tax hikes to spending cuts? >> well, first let me say harry misspoke. he meant that they've already done a trillion dollars in cuts in the last resolution and those play out over the next ten years. and that's correct. that's a fact. and the president has said consistently both on the campaign trail and after the election that he's for something on the lines of simpson-bowles which is at least 2.5:1 spending cuts to taxes. and i think he laid out the 400 and then...
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ambassador susan rice. >>> elsewhere, president obama has drawn a hard line on tax increases for the wealthiest of americans. rejecting an offer that republicans claim is as good as it's going to get. tracie potts joins us with the latest on this. good morning. >> reporter: right now it's looking more likely that we could, could, go over that fiscal cliff at the end of the month because right now, negotiations here are at a stand still. president obama talks to the business round table today after telling bloomberg he absolutely won't bunch. the wealthiest americans must pay more. >> we're not going to be able to get a deal without it. >> reporter: he may be in a good position to wait it out. a new poll found more half of americans will blame republicans if we go over the fiscal cliff. >> republicans do not want to touch one hair on the head of one person making over $250,000. that is the rub. >> they've got to come with some specific revenue. they refuse to do that. >> reporter: even other republicans are split on john boehner's plan to avoid tax hikes all together and admit negotia
ambassador susan rice. >>> elsewhere, president obama has drawn a hard line on tax increases for the wealthiest of americans. rejecting an offer that republicans claim is as good as it's going to get. tracie potts joins us with the latest on this. good morning. >> reporter: right now it's looking more likely that we could, could, go over that fiscal cliff at the end of the month because right now, negotiations here are at a stand still. president obama talks to the business round...
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Nov 29, 2012
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you're not going to grow the economy if you raise tax rates on the top two rates. it will hurt small businesses or hurt our economy. >> meanwhile, president obama is again stepping into defend susan rice who was locked in a face-to-face power struggle with republicans on capitol hill for the second straight day. as nbc's andrea mitchell reports, it's not getting any easier for the women many believe who will be nominated for the next secretary of state. >> the primary purpose from my perspective -- >> with hillary clinton nodding approval, the president sent a strong message to the republicans, don't mess with my u.n. ambassador. rice a welcomed signal that her nomination is still alive despite another brutal day on capitol hill. >> the u.n. ambassador decided to play what was essentially a political role at the height of a contentious presidential election campaign. >> i would just ask the president to step back for a moment and realize that all of us here hold the secretary of state to a very different standard than most cabinet members. >> reporter: why is she s
you're not going to grow the economy if you raise tax rates on the top two rates. it will hurt small businesses or hurt our economy. >> meanwhile, president obama is again stepping into defend susan rice who was locked in a face-to-face power struggle with republicans on capitol hill for the second straight day. as nbc's andrea mitchell reports, it's not getting any easier for the women many believe who will be nominated for the next secretary of state. >> the primary purpose from...
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what will they tell president obama about the spending cuts and tax increases now just 28 days away? >> we must reign in our out of control spending. >> reporter: republicans have an offer, $800 billion in new taxes, half what the president wanted. $600 billion saved in part by making americans wait until they're 67 to get medicare. plus more cuts totalling $2.2 trillion. but no tax hikes for the wealthy. >> that's just not going to happen. >> reporter: the pentagon could take the biggest hit from president obama told defense experts monday, don't worry. >> even as we make very tough fiscal choices, we're going to keep investing in these programs. >> reporter: he went online on youtube and twitter explaining why he thinks the rich should pay more. going over the fiscal cliff could cost america jobs. >> we're only expanding 2% right now. it needs to be considerably higher to bring more people off unemployment. >> reporter: for the jobless, president obama is asking congress for millions more. and more on the president's plan which will pitch to governors today largely spares social se
what will they tell president obama about the spending cuts and tax increases now just 28 days away? >> we must reign in our out of control spending. >> reporter: republicans have an offer, $800 billion in new taxes, half what the president wanted. $600 billion saved in part by making americans wait until they're 67 to get medicare. plus more cuts totalling $2.2 trillion. but no tax hikes for the wealthy. >> that's just not going to happen. >> reporter: the pentagon...
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keep in mind, the senate is sitting there and they have passed a tax cut extension program that the obama administration wants and it would essentially lay the groundwork for getting a quick fix to this fiscal cliff. they could then move on to the spending cuts portion. >> sam stein, "huffington post," good to have you with us. >> go giants. >> stop that. >> had to do that. >> giants are okay. i like the packers better. remember to answer tonight's question question at the bottom of the screen. share your thoughts on twitter @edshow and on facebook. we always want to know what you think. >>> coming up, senate minority leader mitch mcconnell says democrats need to raise the eligibility age for medicare? obama care architect dr. zeke manual joins me to talk about what will happen if the parties don't come to a deal. want to try to crack it? yeah, that's the way to do it! now we need a little bit more... [ male announcer ] at humana, we understand the value of quality time and personal attention. which is why we are proud to partner with health care professionals who understand the differenc
keep in mind, the senate is sitting there and they have passed a tax cut extension program that the obama administration wants and it would essentially lay the groundwork for getting a quick fix to this fiscal cliff. they could then move on to the spending cuts portion. >> sam stein, "huffington post," good to have you with us. >> go giants. >> stop that. >> had to do that. >> giants are okay. i like the packers better. remember to answer tonight's...
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that would let president obama pocket $1 trillion in tax revenue and secure a win on his key priority in the talks. but they would do nothing else. at the end of the year, we would still go over the fiscal cliff. remember, the bush tax cuts are one of the at least stimulative policies in the negotiations. according to the economic policy institute, extending the middle class tax cuts would wipe out only about 11% of the austerity's economic impact. 11%. but all that other stuff, the payroll tax cut, the unemployment insurance, the sequester, all that, that would still be expiring. so come early next year, the economy would likely be entering an austerity-induced recession. markets would be convulsing as they realize our austerity crisis is about to become also a default crisis. and so the economy, as a whole, is going to be going nuts. poll after poll already shows republicans are receiving more blame for the potential failure of the debt talks. and after telling the press they're going to make a strategic decision to use a debt ceiling as more and more dangerous leverage, they're lik
that would let president obama pocket $1 trillion in tax revenue and secure a win on his key priority in the talks. but they would do nothing else. at the end of the year, we would still go over the fiscal cliff. remember, the bush tax cuts are one of the at least stimulative policies in the negotiations. according to the economic policy institute, extending the middle class tax cuts would wipe out only about 11% of the austerity's economic impact. 11%. but all that other stuff, the payroll tax...
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in the next hour and a half, president obama will continue the great reasonableness tour of 2012. visiting a middle class family in northern virginia with the aim of putting more pressure on congress to extend middle income tax cuts. majority leader harry reid did his part for the cause on the senate floor today. >> so it's apparent how this will end. the only question is, when will it end? it's how long will speaker boehner make middle class families wait for relief and how long will he force the financial markets to wait for uncertainty. >> joining the panel now, the sage of capitol hill, the seasonally elegant luke russert. >> thank you so much for having me. >> you get a special intro when you arrive on set a little late. thrilled to have you here, with ongoing deliberation on capitol hill, you are the eyes. >> eyes and ears hopefully. yet i'm here, congress is recessed this week. >> always a reason, my friend. the fact that tim geithner came out and said, we will go over this cliff, is somewhat counter to what the president has been saying thus far. you couple that and the re
in the next hour and a half, president obama will continue the great reasonableness tour of 2012. visiting a middle class family in northern virginia with the aim of putting more pressure on congress to extend middle income tax cuts. majority leader harry reid did his part for the cause on the senate floor today. >> so it's apparent how this will end. the only question is, when will it end? it's how long will speaker boehner make middle class families wait for relief and how long will he...
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another day, another republican jumping ship from grover norquist and his anti-tax pledge. this time it's new york congressman chris gibson who said that because of redistricting, he figures the pledge only applies to the area he was serving before. >>> and this was the photo op of the day. of course, vice president joe biden, he was shopping at the new costco in washington, d.c. he munched on some cookie samples, bought children's books, a tv set and apple pie. >>> remember this guy? the one who vowed to keep his romney/ryan campaign tattoo dispute the election results? reality has apparently caught up with him, and it's coming off soon. and that's your dish of "scrambled politics." >>> another day of fiscal cliff drama. stocks reversed early gains and fell shortly after house speaker john boehner dashed hopes that lawmakers were getting closer to agreeing on a year-end budget deal. but all three major markets did bounce back by the afternoon. >>> economic data was positive thursday, but we'll see what impact there is today from grim news out of europe. eurozone unemployme
another day, another republican jumping ship from grover norquist and his anti-tax pledge. this time it's new york congressman chris gibson who said that because of redistricting, he figures the pledge only applies to the area he was serving before. >>> and this was the photo op of the day. of course, vice president joe biden, he was shopping at the new costco in washington, d.c. he munched on some cookie samples, bought children's books, a tv set and apple pie. >>> remember...
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seeing the wealthy pay a little bit more on taxes, half of the electorate said that. everybody should pay a little bit more so a clear majority said that. consistently "the washington post" poll showed right after the election and again now that are more people will blame republicans and the president if there is no deal. so i think republicans need to really tread carefully. look, i think it hurts everybody politically if we go over the fiscal cliff. republicans will pay a larger price. it's about making sure they don't drive themselves off a middle class cliff by digging their heels into lower rates. actual hadly have lower rates for the wealthy than the wealt >> tripp, you work for a group -- you're saying, hey, we stand for principle but you're not there to win elections. you're there to win policy fights. >> right. >> the fact is, if republicans could be -- some concern is republicans pulling away from the vote. >> hopefully good policy makes good politics. in this case, if we can see the tax issue, that's not going to fix the problem. the drivers of the debt is
seeing the wealthy pay a little bit more on taxes, half of the electorate said that. everybody should pay a little bit more so a clear majority said that. consistently "the washington post" poll showed right after the election and again now that are more people will blame republicans and the president if there is no deal. so i think republicans need to really tread carefully. look, i think it hurts everybody politically if we go over the fiscal cliff. republicans will pay a larger...
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the politician suggested the gop should accept president obama's plan to extend tax cuts and debate the tax hikes for the wealthy. >> i do believe we should take things where we agree with the president and take them off the table one at a time. this would strengthen our position in the course of the negotiations. >> joining me e is former governor howard dean and congressman tom davis. hello, you guys. good to have you both. so representative davis, i will begin with you. congressman kohl says this move would strengthen the gop position. do you agree or do you think it's a risky approach? >> well, it's a little of both frankly. when you give that up, there's nothing left for the president to agree to. he's won the day. the problem with that is everybody goes off the cliff at this point. everybody's taxes go up and does that strengthen your position? the problem is you need one spokesman for the republicans. the republicans can't have a lot of members out there freelancing their own ideas. you look divided. >> we had timothy geithner defending the plan to avert the fiscal cliff. let's t
the politician suggested the gop should accept president obama's plan to extend tax cuts and debate the tax hikes for the wealthy. >> i do believe we should take things where we agree with the president and take them off the table one at a time. this would strengthen our position in the course of the negotiations. >> joining me e is former governor howard dean and congressman tom davis. hello, you guys. good to have you both. so representative davis, i will begin with you....
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. >> which is why i'm glad that president obama had the courage to end the bush tax cuts two years ago -- oh, wait a second. i'll tell you what. you know what? >> i agree with you. >> extended them for two more years, but at least now he's got the nerve, the courage to do what democrats have been saying all along, and end the bush -- oh, wait a second. no. he's actually keeping 98% of them. huh. >> look, he's keeping it for 98% of the country. i happen to agree. you know, i'm a supporter of the simpson-bowles approach, but we are where we are right now. and i think to chuck's point, this may make it -- and to your point -- and they may get to a point where this is very uncomfortable for democrats. again, $2 trillion, both are asking for that, it with certainly get us through the year, avoid sequestration, avoid the pain that many in the business community are concerned about. if we start growing again, imagine how easy this conversation will be next year if the economy is growing at 3% to 4%. >> yes, and the spirit of jack kemp rises from the table of "morning joe." >> growth. it's alw
. >> which is why i'm glad that president obama had the courage to end the bush tax cuts two years ago -- oh, wait a second. i'll tell you what. you know what? >> i agree with you. >> extended them for two more years, but at least now he's got the nerve, the courage to do what democrats have been saying all along, and end the bush -- oh, wait a second. no. he's actually keeping 98% of them. huh. >> look, he's keeping it for 98% of the country. i happen to agree. you...
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>> how will he pass the massive obama tax cut without the house? >> i'm assuming they'd want to have a big tax cut, right? >> no. >> they would sit on their hands post-january 1st and say nothing? >> do you think republicans are so stupid in the house they don't see that move coming and say, you know what? you go ahead and you try to pass your tax cut through harry reid's senate, and we'll pass our tax cut through the house. and good luck. >> so they would just rather have everyone's tax -- i'm shock that that would be the end result. >> harry reid would rather have it his way or nobody's way? >> no, i'm saying you can negotiate in these flex three weeks about this package of tax cuts. >> i don't mean this to be directed towards you -- >> but here it comes. >> -- no, i'm just saying generally, there is such an arrogance in the media since the president won. they think that these house republicans are -- >> have nothing to say. >> -- have absolutely nothing to say. >> i do agree with that. or nothing of value. >> they act as if they were elected by
>> how will he pass the massive obama tax cut without the house? >> i'm assuming they'd want to have a big tax cut, right? >> no. >> they would sit on their hands post-january 1st and say nothing? >> do you think republicans are so stupid in the house they don't see that move coming and say, you know what? you go ahead and you try to pass your tax cut through harry reid's senate, and we'll pass our tax cut through the house. and good luck. >> so they would...
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isn't it plausible the shape of the deal we do what obama ran on on the tax cuts, on the tax increases and we're going to study the future spending cuts? isn't that the face-saving way out? >> it's tax reform, part of that conversation in the background. but i think simpson-bowles is more of a way out for the gop than some folks may think. i think generally the public, conservatives included, like the ideas that are enunciated in the plan. i think certainly more conservative members in the house and the senate have spoken favorably of it. it gives you a framework to begin the conversation and i was surprised that neither the president nor mitt romney actually took that as sort of a bull whip to kind of shape the argument. >> talking like that, that's why you referred to as former republican connection. >> there's a funny kind of -- there's an interesting, you know, i don't know, third option. i don't think it will come to this but there's sort of, you know, let's say we go over the cliff. the republicans do not -- they hold firm. we go over the cliff, then we'll no doubt reinstate the
isn't it plausible the shape of the deal we do what obama ran on on the tax cuts, on the tax increases and we're going to study the future spending cuts? isn't that the face-saving way out? >> it's tax reform, part of that conversation in the background. but i think simpson-bowles is more of a way out for the gop than some folks may think. i think generally the public, conservatives included, like the ideas that are enunciated in the plan. i think certainly more conservative members in...
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and obama would be remiss not to try. go ahead, eugene. >> obama has talked about -- he phrased it as breaking the fever, i think, at one point. this sort of solid wall of adamanting opposition to any sort of tax rate increase ever in the house has been seen as a problem to him from day one. and coming off the election, he's in a stronger political position than he's been in before. his incentive is not to rush into the room, his strength is out among public opinion where that's friendlier terrain for him. whereas once they get in the room, of course, republicans still have power, still have control of the house. >> yeah. >> so there's no great incentive for him to rush to compromise at this point. >> gene, why is -- why is raising the top marginal rate so important to the president as well as liberals across america? why -- explain why the is that so important? >> well -- >> and i'm talking specifically the top marginal rate. not taxes on the rich. because the rich have been skating by for too long. i've said it it's imm
and obama would be remiss not to try. go ahead, eugene. >> obama has talked about -- he phrased it as breaking the fever, i think, at one point. this sort of solid wall of adamanting opposition to any sort of tax rate increase ever in the house has been seen as a problem to him from day one. and coming off the election, he's in a stronger political position than he's been in before. his incentive is not to rush into the room, his strength is out among public opinion where that's...
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obama's objective in these negotiations is not economic but political. not to solve the debt crisis but to fracture the republican majority in the house. get boehner to cave, pass the tax hike with democratic votes provided by minority leader nancy pelosi and let the republican civil war begin. it doesn't even matter whether boehner gets deposed as speaker. either way, the republican house would be neutered, giving obama a free hand to dominate washington and fashion the entitlement state of his liking. what should republicans do? stop giving stuff away. if obama remains intransigent, let him be the one to take us over the cliff, and then let the new house, which is sworn in weeks before the president, immediately introduce and pass a full across-the-board restoration of the george w. bush tax cuts. >> so i don't think that's inconsistent with anything that i just said. i agree with him 100%. what have i been saying for a week? do not cave. compromise. do not cave. if the president doesn't want to meet us halfway on massive entitlement cuts, on reforming
obama's objective in these negotiations is not economic but political. not to solve the debt crisis but to fracture the republican majority in the house. get boehner to cave, pass the tax hike with democratic votes provided by minority leader nancy pelosi and let the republican civil war begin. it doesn't even matter whether boehner gets deposed as speaker. either way, the republican house would be neutered, giving obama a free hand to dominate washington and fashion the entitlement state of...